Surfacing apparatus



June 24, E930.

F. J. TONE SURFAC ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23. 1926 INI/N TOR. TanaPatented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK J. TONE, OFNIAGARA FALLS, NEW-YOR-K, ASSIGNOR T THE CARBOBUND'UM COMPANY, 0FNIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA sp.IpanemaAPPARATUS v The present invention, relating, as indicated, to surfacingapparatus'is more particularly directed to an improved supporting padfor supporting and holding sheets of surfacing material, such forexample as abrasive covered sheets or plates of' paper,

cloth, polishing elements or thelike for use either in mechanicallyoperated machines or in hand-operated blocks. The principal object ofthe present invention is to provide a simple and rapid means forsecuring to a supporting block or pad a sheet of abrasive paper withoutthe use of mechanical fasten ing means. j

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing/and the followingdescription setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying theinvention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one ofvarious mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may beused.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view ofl asurfacing machine with which my improved supporting pad may be used;Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of one form of supporting pad whichmay be employed with the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is another type ofsupporting pad; Fig. 4 is a trans-I verse sectional view of stillanother modification of the supporting pad; and Fig. 5 is a sectionalView of a further modification.

Referring now to Fig.' 1 there is shown one form of surfacing apparatusconsisting of a frame or casing 1 which may be provided with suitableoperating handles, and which carries shafts 2 and 3 operativelyconnected by means of engaged bevel gears 4 and 5, respectively. Tleshaft 2 may be driven by any suitable means, such Ifor example as aflexible shaft extendingfrom a source of power, while the shaft 3extends through the bottomffof the casing, and carries at its lower enda supporting pad, which maybe of various forms. In Fig. 2 I have shownthis pad as consisting of a series of resilient plates 7 8, 9, 10 and11, these plates overlapping and reinforcing each other and constitutingaexible, resilient supporting means for a compressible pad 12, againstwhich the surfacing disk of paper or cloth, carrying abrasive on onesurface, is to be held. The overlapping resilient plates 7, 8, 9, 10 and11 are completely enclosed in a flexible cover 13, an intermediateportion of which is formed yas a compressible pad 12, and both theplates and cover are clamped at their inner edges between members 14 and15 to constitute a, completelyr sealed chamber which surrounds thesupporting plates and has as its lower wall the compressible pad 12, itbeing understood that, except for the pad portion 12, the cover 13 isimperforate. The pad 12 is provided lwith a plurality of suction ports16 leadin to the' interior of the chamber, while the onIy other port oropening into the chamber is a port 17 leading through a circular chamber18 and second port 19 to a suction conduit 2O formed in the shaft 3 andleading upwardly through an extension of this shaft to any suitablesuction means. In Fig. I1I have shown one form of such suction meansconsisting of expansible and collapsible chamber 21. Thischamber, whencollapsed, which can be effected manually, and then allowed to expand,draws 'air through the central conduit 20 in the shaft and fromft'hechamber formed around the supporting elements 7, 8, 9, etc., in this waylacing a suction upon all of the ports 16. t will be understood that anyother suitable suction means may be substituted for the expansible andcollapsible chamber 21, depending upon the suction which is required,and if necessary a suitable pump or similar apparatus may be employed.

To apply the surfacing disk to my improved pad it is only necessary toplace the disk concentrica-lly against the lower surface of the pad 12,and while holding it firmlyv against this pad to applysuction to theconduit 20. This is done by first collapsing the expansible member 21and then allowing it to expand while the disk is held against the pad.The actual movement of air is sli ht so that with a relatively smallexpansi le lUO chamber 21 a very effective suction can be applied to thedisk and one which is suficient to hold the disk in close contact withthe pad at all times. The degree of suction required will of course varyunder certain conditions, and if necessary other and more powerfulsuction means can be applied.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification of the pad construction. The padthere shown consists of a compressible felt disk 30 which is completelyenclosed in a casing formed of rubberized fabric, rubber or some similarmaterial, said casing being imperforate except for a plurality ofsuction openings in its lower surface. The suction is applied to thefelt in the same manner as to the chamber formed Within the casing 13 inthe construction of Fig. 2, that is, through a central suction conduitin the shaft, and the pad, which is of felt, is suiiiciently porous topermit the suction to be eHective through the openings 31.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a pad 34 consisting of porous or so-called spongyrubber enclosed with a casing 33 which is imperforate except for suctionopenings in its one surface registering with ports 35 in the pad 34 incommunication With a conduit 36 formed in said pad. Nhen suction isapplied to the conduit 36 the action through the suction openings 35 isprecisely the saine as in the preceding forms of pads and acts to hold asurfacing disk tightly against the lower surface of the pad.

In Fig. 5 I have shown another form of compressible pad of soft rubberwhich is provided with suction recesses 37 on its lower surface. The padoperates by being pressed iirmlyagainst a surfacing disk when it issufficiently compressible to flatten at the side Walls of the recesses37 and to hold thereagainst the surfacing disk by suction.

It will of course be understood that While in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 thesupporting pad has been shown With a depressed central portion it is notessential that this be depressed, and in certain cases'the entire lowersurface of the supporting pad may be perfectl flat, that is, it may liein the same plane. t will 'also be apparent that the present inventionis in no Way limited to use With a rotary surfacing disk, as it mayequally Well be employed inl connection with other types of apparatus,in which the surfacing disks are not rotated, but are oscillated orreciprocated, or it may be employed in connection with manually operatedblocks, in which the entire surfacing device consists merely of asuitably formed block which is held in the hand of the operator.

The invention may of course also be used in still other forms ofapparatus, such, for example, in machines havlng cylindricall or conicalsurfacing elements, in which event the suction means may be employed toretain incassa the surfacing elements on the operating cones orcylinders.

Other modes of applying the rinciple of my invention ma be employedpinstead of the one explaine change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. A surfacing machine comprising a casing enclosing a shaft having asuction conduit therein, a compressible disc secured to said, shaft,said disc being provided with a plurality of suction openings in onesurface, means placing in communication said suction openings and saidconduit in said shaft, and means mounted on said casing for exhaustingair from said shaft conduit.

2. A supporting disc consisting of a pad of compressible and porousmaterial, and a cover therefor imperforate except for a plurality ofsuction openings in one surface, whereby suction applied to the interiorof said porous pad Will produce a suction throu h said openings.

3. lh combination, a pad for surfacing machines comprising a tubularsupporting element, a compressible pad mounted on the same and having aplurality of openings in one surface, a suction conduit connecting saidopenings with the interior of said element, and manually operable meansmounted adjacent said element for convenient operation and adapted toexhaust air from the interior of said element.

4. A pad for surfacing machines comprising a tubular supporting element,a compressible pad of porous material mounted to enclose one end of thesame and providing a space thereabout, and an otherwise imperforatecover having a plurality of suc- FRANK J. TONE.

